Folks, the second book in J. Rodes’ The Uncloaked Trilogy is here, and it’s just as compelling as the first! Today, I’m going to introduce you to the two main characters in Tearing the Veil. If you’ve already read The Uncloaked, you’ll be familiar with Braxton, but in Tearing the Veil, Hannah Knight (Eliza’s younger sister) also takes a leading part.

Now, just so that there’s no misunderstanding, there is no mutual attraction between these two! Braxton’s heart still very much belongs to Hannah’s sister Eliza, and Hannah’s heart…well, you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens there. 😉

If you’re interested in learning a little bit about the dystopian genre, and why a Christian author would choose to write in it, make sure you check out my interview with Jennifer Rodewald (J. Rodes). You can also read my review of Tearing the Veil here.

Braxton Luther

Age: 18

Brief physical description: Tall, dark haired, brown eyes.

Five words that describe his personality: Stubborn and driven and a little bit snarky. Braxton’s been humbled, and he’s seeking redemption.

Background: Braxton is a pastor’s kid, and wrestling with that unique life has pushed much of his decision making. He’s also in love with Eliza Knight, Hannah’s sister, which is pushing much of his current decision making.

Strengths/weaknesses: His stubbornness and determination are both his greatest weaknesses, and potentially his most useful strengths. Braxton’s heartache has birthed new humility, which allows him to harness his stubborn streak so that it can become an asset rather than his continual downfall.

Greatest struggle: Identity and redemption. Without identity, he can’t really stand on courage, and Braxton really wrestles with the fact that he’d become a sellout, and because of that, he’d lost the girl he loved.

Greatest accomplishment: You’ll have to read the book. 😉

The first thing people tend to notice about Braxton is: He’s still our outspoken Braxton Luther, but he’s grown quite a bit since The Uncloaked, and his determination is now focused on something beyond the self-centered boy that he’d been.

Person he most admires: Braxton is in awe of Eliza’s strength, and he lets that inspire his own.

Spends his free time: He’s in the Den. Free time doesn’t happen.

Saying to live by: “I have discovered that grace is bigger than I imagined… my bad decisions do not have to be my legacy.” (spoken to him by Jed Stevens)

Hannah Knight

Five words that describe her personality: Stubborn and driven and a little bit snarky. Hannah is searching for identity, so she’s lost and she doesn’t know it.

Strengths/weaknesses: Like Braxton, her stubbornness and determination are both her greatest weaknesses, and potentially her most useful strengths. But whereas Braxton has begun to harness his stubborn streak, Hannah… still has a lot to learn, and sadly, the world she lives in doesn’t leave a lot of safe room for that kind of education.

Greatest struggle: Identity and redemption. Without identity, she can’t really stand on courage, and since Hannah can’t define herself without relating her identity to someone else, this becomes a death trap to her.

Greatest accomplishment: You’ll have to read the book. 😉

The first thing people tend to notice about Hannah is: She’s so much like Braxton. Except, not in everything.

Person she most admires: Hannah admires Braxton’s apparent independence, the will to do his own thing even if those around him warn against it.

Spends her free time: She’s in the Pride. Free time doesn’t happen.

Saying to live by: “Figure out who you are, and then don’t let anyone shake that identity.” (spoken to her by Skye)

~ About the Book ~

Braxton Luther, the sellout.

Now a part of the Den, he’s determined to make good on Eliza Knight’s faith in him—to be more than what he’d settled for when the Party had taken over. But his goal is dangerous, and not just for him. As he searches for a way to protect the silent, invisible victims of the new government, Braxton’s mission—which includes finding a way to rescue Eliza from the Reformation Camp—becomes even more complicated. Hannah Knight, Eliza’s sister, is simply too much like him.

Tired of standing in her perfect sister’s shadow, Hannah determines to find her own place in the world. If that place is with the Pride—the girls’ home and training center provided by the Party—so be it. When she leaves the hopelessness of the cellar, that’s all she’s aiming for. But Quinn Sanger, the handsome son of a powerful political leader, finds her at the creek, and her life takes an unexpected and optimistic turn.

Braxton’s convinced Hannah’s in trouble. Hannah’s convinced Braxton, and all the Uncloaked, are insane. But when they peek behind the real veil the Party maintains, the truth is beyond what either had feared or hoped.

If everyone knew, it could change everything. They redefine their mission. It’s time to tear the veil.

Seems there is some allusions to the The Selection Series by Keira Cass and I am always up for a good dystopian fiction YA novel especially a Christian or clean fiction one. Definitely, adding to my TRL.